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valerie-is-in-the-cupboard · 3 months ago

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Out of Darkness - Chapter Six: The Beginning of the End - Alastor x human!fem!reader

Go to the table of contents.

I haven't checked it, so if there are any mistakes (of any kind), I apologise and I'll check everything again later today. Also, I’m unsure if the assistant’s name is actually Papermint—it's a detail I might have picked up somewhere and now find myself stuck with. I wanted to let you know that I’ll be away for about a week and won’t be able to post during that time. There’s a chance I might manage to write and share the NSFW continuation tomorrow if I have time, but I can't make any promises. I hope you enjoy this chapter in the meantime, dearies <3

Words: ~3120

TW: cursing

It’s been a year since Alastor’s sudden disappearance from Hell, his broadcasts failing from making sinners shiver in fear upon hearing them. The silence left everyone wondering where he could be, not a single possible scenario making people feel safe – if he died, who dared to kill him? If he didn’t die, what was he plotting? People were afraid of sharing their theories, every shadow feeling like a little spy, ready to tell Alastor who dares to talk behind his. All people except one…

“It’s been nearly a year since that old-timey prick vanished!” Vox’s voice thundered through Pentagram City, brimming with derision. His broadcasts had become a daily reminder of Alastor’s absence, taunting and mocking the fear he once inspired. “Is he dead? Is he hiding? Who gives a fuck?!” His laughter, a sharp, jagged sound, reverberated through the streets. Vox relished in his rival’s silence, finding a twisted pleasure in the void left behind.

The Overlords, however, were far from pleased with Vox’s indiscretions. Though they rarely voiced their concerns, the underlying fear of Alastor’s potential return kept them in check. They understood that Alastor’s influence had been a stabilizing force, and with him possibly gone for good, they dreaded the chaos that could ensue if their grip on power faltered.

“Darling, would you please close the door?” Rosie asked one of her clients, an annoyed look on her face. “I wish that good-for-nothing demon would just shut up…” she said harshly.

“Are you alright, dear Rosie?” a woman asked, making her sigh.

“Oh, yes, honey… I can’t help but wonder just like the others what happened to dear Alastor…” she faked a little laugh, arranging the shelves in the emporium. She quickly turned to the door, hearing people screaming outside. Everyone rushed to see what was happening, Rosie making her way through the curious people.

“I saw him!” a trembling demon cried out, drawing a wide circle of frightened onlookers. His appearance was a grotesque sight—his flesh was torn, blood oozing from fresh, gaping wounds. His eyes, wild and frantic, darted among the crowd. “Alastor’s alive!” he shrieked, his voice a raw edge of terror. Gasps of shock spread through the crowd, some fleeing in panic. “He’s in the human world! And he’s powerful! He’s going to destroy us all!” His dire warning sent waves of fear through the masses.

Everyone looked in shock.

“How do you know?” someone from the crowd shouted.

“I just returned! I was about to die at the hands of human priests, but I saw him! I swear it was him!”

Rosie looked at him, her eyes wide in shock. Alastor was alive. But if he was so strong, why didn’t he return? She looked at the crowd and spotted one of Vox’s assistants, a sense of worry flashing over her… This was not going to be good.

As expected, later that day, Vox demanded the Overlords to hold a meeting. Without much of a choice, they all gathered, curious of what Vox wanted to say.

“Good evening, fellas!” Vox said a wide grin on his face. Valentino was sitting next to him, a smirk on his face as he already knew what the meeting was going to be about. Behind them stood two assistants, trembling, and holding some pieces of paper. “I bet you’ve all heard the shocking news, right?”

“Yes, Vox… You broadcasted that psycho all over Pentagram City…” Carmilla said, her eye twitching in annoyance. “If this is going to be about Alastor again…”

“No, no… I mean, yes. But this time is important!” Vox declared. The other Overlords looked at Vox with curiosity as he talked… everyone was eager to know what this ‘important’ thing was that Vox wanted to tell them about. But Carmilla seemed to know what the meeting was going to be about already, the look on her face clearly telling that she really didn’t want to be there right now, that she was annoyed and impatient… Carmilla knew that he lived for the attention, but she didn't care all that much about it. If he left her and her business alone, he could say or do what he wanted.

“My assistant here managed to talk to the demon from earlier and he has some… information.” Vox continued, his smile never leaving his face. “Papermint! Go on!”

The little demon came a little closer, his whole body trembling. Valentino shot the demon a menacing look, as Vox became more and more impatient.

“Stop shaking like a scared animal and get on with it,” Valentino muttered with a roll of his eyes.

Carmilla rolled her eyes again, barely paying attention to the assistant's shaking. She had to admit that even though Valentino and Vox were both pompous, obnoxious, and arrogant, at least Valentino was a lot more direct and to the point than his partner. Vox always seemed to waste everyone's time with his grand entrances.

She let out an impatient sigh. "Can we get on with this, please? I have actual business to attend to."

The little demon gulped and tried to gather some courage, his nervous fingers trying to flip over the sheet of paper. He glanced at Vox, who was giving him a cold stare that screamed “I’ll make your life a living hell if you continue this way.” The little demon looked back at the paper, quickly flipping it to the other side. “Yes! Uh… So, I talked to the demon… And apparently, Alastor was in his human form and he didn’t seem weakened at all.”

“See?” Vox said, waiting for a reaction from the others. “You know what this means?”

"No, pray tell." A rather snide voice chimed in. Carmilla did not have the time for Vox and to be frank he irritated her to no end. She leaned forward on the stand, giving Vox a pointed stare. To say she disapproved of this little meeting would be the understatement of the year.

“It means that we can all go back! We can get strong there! Conquer the human world!” Vox said, Valentino, chuckling quietly behind him.

“You’re insane, Vox. Plain and simple insane.” Carmilla scoffed with an eye roll.

Zestial took one look at Vox and chuckled. This was going to be an interesting conversation it seemed. "What makes you think you are going to conquer anything but a grave?!" Zestial shouted at the sinner. "The human world is full of priests and hunters that will kill all of us before we regain our strength.”

“Oh, come on!” Vox shouted. “The prick did it! Why can’t we do it?”

“We don’t even know if it was him!” Rosie said and Vox angrily looked at his assistant, signaling him to continue reading.

“Uhm, the man said… ‘it smelled like death and suffering and he threatened a human he’ll destroy his soul’.” All the Overlords stopped for a moment.

“It does sound like him…” another one admitted.

“I agree with Vox.” Everyone looked towards the cat overlord. “Besides, the human world would mean more souls for us,” Husk said a sly smile on his face.

“See?!” Vox said, exasperation in his voice.

“No. We cannot risk it. The meeting is over.” Carmilla decided and got up, followed by the other overlords.

“Fuck you all! You’re all pussies! Cowards!” Vox shouted at them as he stormed out of the room, followed by Valentino and Papermint. But his other assistant noticed Carmilla and Zestial leaving together and decided to follow them.

“Don’t be so angry, dear friend…” Zestial told Carmilla. “They will never be able to do it.”

Carmilla sighed, looking out the window. “They can’t find out, Zestial… If they know portals can be opened by us-“she started, but quickly stopped, feeling a presence around her. “We’ll talk later…” she said, and the two demons parted ways. The little assistant ran as fast as he could. He had to tell Vox and the thought of a raise filled his mind.

Suddenly, a blinding light engulfed him, and a horrible pain struck through his body, making him scream in agony as darkness embraced him.

The door of (y/n)’s apartment opened forcefully. She entered with a wide smile on her face, Alastor following quickly, his arms full of bags and boxes. He closed the door behind him with his foot, his gaze never leaving the girl.

“Your friends surely brought a lot of gifts.” He said, placing them on the coffee table in the living room. (Y/n) came closer to him, a smirk on her face. “What?” Alastor asked, his smile never leaving.

“You did it!” she said accusingly.

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, my dear," he said innocently, trying to feign ignorance.

“The surprise party?! Oh come on, you can’t lie to me!”

“What? You are accusing me of things I have never even thought about, darling!” he laughed. (Y/n) tried to hug him but stopped, looking up at him for approval. “Go ahead, my dear. I won't bite," he said, his usual smirk still in place. (Y/n) hugged him, a shiver running down his spine. He started getting accustomed to her being touchy with him, but it still made his brain freeze for a moment whenever she would do it.

“Thank you…” she said, her voice soft and full of adoration. She looked up at him. “Aren’t you mad we didn’t spend my 23rd birthday together as planned?”

Alastor chuckled softly, his hands finding their way to her hips as she looked up at him. “Oh, darling, the night is still young.” He assured her.

"It was the best gift, Al." Alastor's smile widened a hint of warmth in his eyes. He relished the genuine happiness in her voice, it was a soothing sound to him.

"Anything for you, my dear," he said softly, gently pulling her closer to him. "Besides... it's not the last gift for tonight."

(Y/n)’s eyes became wider at the statement. “What else is there?” She asked, caressing his cheek with one hand.

"Now, now. Telling you would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?" he teased, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. Alastor leaned in, pulling one of her rings out of his pocket.

“My ring!” She said excitedly. “I’ve been looking for it for one week!”

“I know, darling. I needed it for something.”

She raised a brow. "What for?" Alastor's eyes sparkled with a hint of mystery as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

"I needed it to measure something... But you don’t need to worry, really." he teased, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"No, no. You have to tell me now!" she smiled at him, excited to find out what he needed it for. Alastor chuckled again, admiring the curiosity sparking in her eyes. He enjoyed the small moments like this, teasing and bantering with her.

"You're not going to rest until you find out, are you?" he asked, a smirk on his face. Alastor sighed dramatically, pretending to be annoyed, but his smile betrayed him. He loved seeing her this excited.

"Fine, I suppose I can tell you." he relented. "But you have to close your eyes first." (Y/n) did as told, not being able to hold back her giggling. "Okay, now stay still and keep those pretty eyes closed, my dear," he said his voice soft and smooth. Alastor walked behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist from the back. "Just a moment, darling," he whispered into her ear, his breath warm against her skin. He reached into his pocket, retrieving an object she couldn't see. The item was small but very valuable to him. He held it gently in his hand, before slowly bringing it up in front of her. "You can open your eyes now," he murmured, his voice filled with anticipation and affection. She opened her eyes, a golden ring in front of her. The ring's band was crafted from polished silver, its surface gleaming with a mirror-like finish that caught the light beautifully. At the centre of the ring was a single, mesmerizing stone—a deep, vibrant red that sparkled like a firework in the dusk. The red gemstone was cut into a perfect oval, its facets catching the light and sending out flashes of crimson and scarlet. It seemed to hold a fiery intensity as if a piece of sunset had been captured and set within the ring.

“Alastor… what is this?” she asked, not sure what to expect.

Alastor's eyes never left her face, gauging her reaction. "It's a symbol. A promise," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. "A promise to always be by your side, to protect and cherish you... to love you." (y/n) looked away from the ring and turned to him. She looked down, fidgeting with his vest, her heartbeat increasing dramatically.

"What are you saying, Al?" she asked.

Alastor cupped her face in his hands, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. His expression was serious, his eyes fixed on hers, holding a mixture of passion and tenderness.

"I'm not saying anything, my dearest," he murmured, his voice soft and velvety. "I'm asking you something.” He took a deep breath, his heart beating faster than he thought possible. "Will you spend eternity with me, darling?"

(Y/n) looked at him, a smile creeping on her face, but slowly faltering. She took his hands in hers. "Al, are you sure? It's only been a year... What if it's not what... you want?"

Alastor's expression softened at her question, his heart melting at her concern for his happiness. He caressed her hands gently, his touch filled with reassurance. "My love, time is just a mere measure," he said, a slight smile playing on his lips. "And I'm certain that there is nothing in the world I want more than spending my eternity with you by my side." (Y/n) smiled at his words, tears in her eyes.

"Then I want this too, Alastor..."

Alastor's smile widened, relief flooding his heart. He pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her like a protective shield. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of happiness and gratitude. "You have no idea what this means to me, darling."

The demon woke up after what seemed like an eternity, his body aching with every movement. He was surrounded by trash, cold engulfing him.

“What the fuck…?” he asked himself, looking around. He scratched his head, but realization quickly hit him. With disgust, he realized he was back in his human form. “Ah, fucking shit…” he whispered. He entered a portal by mistake and returned to the human world.

The demon stood up, trying his best to find balance, a strong smell invading his nose: death and agony. He opened his eyes wide – Alastor was close. A sense of fear engulfed him, but then an idea popped into his mind. If he found Alastor and gathered information, it was just a matter of time until he could return to Hell. And Vox will promote him. A mischievous grin appeared on his face and for a moment he seemed to forget about the pain too.

He followed the smell, hiding in every shadow. He couldn’t risk being seen by a human or worse… by Alastor. By no means he could protect himself in this state.

With slow steps, he entered a building, the smell guiding him to a door. Adrenaline pumped his veins as he knocked on the big wooden door. His feet were burning, ready to run if Alastor opened the door but to his surprise, he didn’t. Instead, (y/n) appeared in the doorframe, the human scent intoxicating the demon.

“Oh, well, hello miss.” He said, looking at her, a sly smile on his face. (Y/n) looked at the demon, disguised as a human. He looked scrawny, with white dirty hair covering his forehead. She gagged at the smell of trash and slammed the door shut in his face. The man started pounding on the door. “Open up you little bitch! I’m gonna-“

The door opened once again, and the man jumped back at the sight. Alastor stood in the doorway, a wide smile on his face as he slowly closed the door behind him, stepping towards the demon.

“Well, well, well… Look what we have here…” The lights started flickering as Alastor’s human form began to disappear. His eyes were glowing red, in the form of radio dials and his body towered over the demon, sharp teeth making him shiver in fear. “Now who exactly do you think you’re calling a ‘bitch’?”

“Al… Alastor… I’m…” the demon started, his voice trembling. “Please don’t kill me!” he begged.

“Now, tell me – Why wouldn’t I?”

“I know something! Something that might interest you!” the demon shouted.

“Hmm… Interesting… And what would that be?” Alastor said, his interest growing for a bit.

“I can tell you like it here… What about that: I tell you how to open portals to this world anytime you want so you can leave and come back… And you let me live!” Alastor came closer to him, thinking about it.

“And how exactly can one do such things?”

“I… I don’t know…” The demon admitted, making Alastor growl angrily. “But I can find out! I’ve heard Carmilla and Zestial talk about it.”

Alastor’s form shrank, his gaze still fixed on the demon. “Agreed. We have a deal,” Alastor said, his tone cold and calculating. “But remember, this must remain confidential. If I discover you’ve leaked any information…” He let the threat hang in the air, his gaze unwavering and menacing.

“I won’t!” the demon assured him. “There’s one more thing… I need you to open a portal for me to go back. I am too weak to do so.”

Alastor extended his hand, green flames burning around it. “Fine…” he said, waiting for a name.

“Zariah.”

“Well done, Zariah. You’ve got yourself a deal.” The two shook their hands and Alastor’s human form returned. “Now, meet me here tomorrow morning and I’ll open that portal for you… if you survive the night, of course…” Alastor finished, returning to the apartment laughing, as Zariah returned to the shadows of the night.

“Al? Are you ok?” (Y/n) ran to him as he entered the door, inspecting him.

“I’m fine, dear.”

“What did he want?”

“Ah, you know how these junkies are…” Alastor said and kissed her forehead. “I think he got the idea…”

He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. “Now, where were we…?”

Tags: @sirens-and-moonflowers, @ratsematary, @xalygatorx, @princessvampxx

Go to: NSFW Part (Ch. 6.5), Chapter Seven

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valerie-is-in-the-cupboard · 3 months ago

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Out of Darkness - Chapter Five: Promises - Alastor x human!fem!reader

Hello~~ You wouldn't believe how difficult this chapter was to write. Initially, I had a completely different idea, wrote it down entirely, but scrapped it because I didn't like it. Then, I almost finished this chapter when I learned an important lesson about saving your work while writing on the phone… So, I hope it turned out at least acceptable. If you find Alastor a bit off and don't enjoy it, please let me know. Sometimes I might write him in a better light, I guess haha. Enjoy reading, loves <3Go to the table of contents.

Words: ~4080 TW: swearing, angst with happy ending

(Y/n) was walking back home, the empty streets covered by the dark of the night, making her almost run to the safety of her house. She held her phone to her ear, listening to portions of Brenda's stories about her day, still aware of her surroundings.

"Anyway, she's a bitch..." Brenda ended the long story about one of her coworkers who keeps hitting on her boyfriend. "You listening?"

(y/n) snapped out of her trance, realising that her mind was wandering off indeed, and it wasn't only because of her fear of getting kidnapped. "Yeah, I just... I try to be aware of what's happening around me, you know?"

"Yeah, I get that. But you know what would've been great? If your boyfriend would've picked you up from David's, not let you wander off alone, especially knowing that you're uncomfortable doing so." a slight annoyance was present in Brenda's voice. (Y/n) sighed. It wasn't the first time Brenda or David warned her about Alastor.

"He's not my boyfriend, Bren."

"Oh, yeah. Because you've been taking it slow for the past few days. Too slow."

"And what's so wrong about it?" (y/n) said back, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Oh, no, girl, don't take me wrong. It is great to take it slow. But not when you're the only one who seems to try." (Y/n) raised an eyebrow at her statement, not understanding what she meant.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on! He doesn't call, he doesn't show up at your door, he doesn't ask you on dates. It's like... He's not even trying to take it slow at this point, he just straight up tries to ignore you, but you always come back."

(Y/n) froze for a bit, thinking about her words. As much as she wanted to say the girl was wrong... she wasn't. Alastor never reached out to her, but he never declined her offers either.

"Ok, but then why did he never reject me?" (y/n) asked, mostly trying to convince herself that Brenda was wrong. "He could've just said no."

"Girl, you saved his life. He probably feels guilty to turn you down, but goddamit, you need to stop!" Brenda sighed, trying not to hurt her friend. She was never the sensitive type, but she has always been straightforward when helping a friend. For this reason, (y/n) always appreciated her. "I don't want to seem a bitch, but I'm saying this for you... I hope I'm wrong because I can tell you really like him, but you should stop being so clingy."

"So what should I do?" (y/n) asked as she entered her apartment.

"First, stop calling him. No calls, no texts, no asking out, nothing." Brenda told her, her voice demanding and confident. "Second, if he does in the end reach to you, you do not answer. Not immediately, at least. Maybe wait a few hours... or better - days. And obviously, it also depends on the reason he's calling. What do you do if he asks you on a date in the park?"

"I say yes?" (y/n) asked, curious if she was right or wrong.

"Wrong!" Brenda cut her off before she could even finish. "You say 'I don't know yet. I'll let you know later.'"

(y/n) chuckled at how silly this conversation seemed.

"Don't laugh! Now, on the other hand, if, after all these days of not doing anything, he asks you to lend him 20 dollars, what do you do?"

"I say I'm not in town?"

"Bravo!" Brenda said proudly. "You need to keep him on his toes. Or else, he will think you're a little puppy who's willing to do everything."

"I see, Bren. Thank you. I need to go. We talk later?"

"Sure. Oh, and (y/n)?" Brenda started, (y/n) humming in response. "I know things between you and Mark didn't work out and it altered your brain, making you see things differently than the rest of the world..." (y/n) smiled softly, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "But you're wonderful. And you deserve someone who cares about you. So don't settle for less just because. Trust me, been there." the girl said softly, a side of her that didn't always come to light.

"Thank you... Means a lot. I love you!" (y/n) said and hung up, sitting down on the couch. Her eyes got a bit watery as she thought about what Brenda said. She was right. She threw herself at Alastor, without thinking.

So, she didn't call him and just waited. A day passed, then two, then five and, eventually, a week. There was no sign of Alastor. Not a single text or call. Nothing.

"Nothing?" a text message from Brenda appeared on (y/n)'s phone. She grabbed the phone, her eyes puffy after she's been crying the whole day. She's acted like a fool, giving him everything he needed and now he left her like an old carpet.

"no" she hesitantly texted Brenda, who answered back almost instantly.

"Well, fuck him. Wanna talk?"

(Y/n) didn't want to talk. She wanted to go see him, scream at him, telling him he was a dick. But she had to stay home and move on. They weren't even dating, so why did she care so much?

"gotta clean the apartment. We'll talk later." (y/n) answered and got up. She wasn't exactly lying. The apartment was a mess and she had to do something that would take her mind off this entire thing.

She cursed the day he showed up at her doorstep. She didn't even want to help him at first...

She didn't tell Alastor the whole story of their meeting. Yes, she wanted to do something good, but it's no one's first choice to bring a stranger into their apartment so late at night, especially if they're a woman living alone.

Truth was she came back from work at around nine, finding him there. Drunk people looking for warmth in apartment buildings were nothing uncommon around there, so the police didn't always interfere, simply saying "They will wake up and leave".

She started knocking on the doors of the neighbours that she knew, not wanting to disturb the entire building with her problems. No one answered, making her believe they were either at work or asleep since some of them were old people.

So she called David and waited outside for anyone to come so she could ask for help. No one. Not a single person showed up. She stood there for one hour and no one appeared in sight. Eventually, freezing and knowing that it would take another hour for David to come, she returned to her door, seeing the passed man still in the same position.

Something that night made her do it. Something begged her to let him inside. Maybe it was her consciousness, telling her that if the man died, it would be her fault, or maybe it was just a moment of recklessness... but she brought him in, covering him with a blanket and turning the temperature extra-high just so he wouldn't die. And look where that brought her...

She wanted to cry, not only because of him but because of her too. She was an idiot. She should've kicked him out as soon as he woke up. Why did she care? If he died, she would've never found out anyway.

And she did think about it. That night, the night before and many nights after. Why did she care if he died? Maybe because most of the time that's how human nature worked. It makes us feel sympathy for others. Or maybe because she would constantly ask herself why the man at the club cared. He could've pretended he didn't see anything or take her home and do something worse. But he didn't. He helped her and asked for nothing in return. They didn't even knew each other's names.

Her thoughts were interrupted when her eyes fell on the little music box Alastor gifted her in the past days - they were walking in the park, passing by a lady selling some old decorative stuff. She could tell he liked it the moment he heard the enchanting, soft music, seeing the little ballerina elegantly spin until the song would stop.

She didn't have money on her that day but planned on buying it for him. But despite her plan, he was the one who gave it to her. She looked at him, her eyes wide. "But... I thought you liked it. Why are you giving it to me?" she had asked him. He smiled at her.

"Yes, dear. I liked it. It is very beautiful and unique. That's why I wanted you to have it."

Tears flooded her eyes and without thinking she got dressed and stormed out of the door. She was angry and she needed explanations. She wasn't gonna sit there crying while he was probably out there partying and sleeping around in the apartment she'd found him with the money from a job she helped him get. Adrenaline fueled her veins, her brain only concentrated on what she was going to tell him. She didn't care that it was cold anymore, she didn't care it was so late at night either.

All of her frustrations rushed to her. She was thinking about how she didn't say anything when she found Mark with her friend having sex, how she didn't get to see the faces of those men at the club when the police took them into custody... Without her will, she needed to take it out.

(Y/n) arrived way too quickly to his place, stopping in front of the door. For a moment, she just stood there, contemplating on what she should do. She took a deep breath and knocked a few times, but no answer. Without thinking, she tried on the doorknob, realising the door was opened. As the door slowly opened with a loud creaking noise, strong smell of paint and stale air engulfed her, almost forcing a choke out of her.

She cautiously entered, a dim light coming out from the room. Upon entering, she froze in the doorway, the scene in front of her seemingly ripped out of a murder documentary. A few candles were lit and the floor was full of paint coming out of a knocked can. There were many broken glass pieces and fallen books or objects. And on top of this scene, there was Alastor, casually sitting on the couch, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He looked away from her, almost as if she wasn't there in the first place.

"Alastor...?" she hesitated, a bit taken aback, her courage long gone. She looked for a moment behind her, making sure she left the door open just in case. The atmosphere felt so heavy, almost as if she was in a horror movie. "What happened?" she asked, stepping a bit closer, waiting for his reaction.

"I tripped and fell." He said after a short pause that actually felt much longer. (Y/n)'s anger came back, clearly seeing through his lies.

"You think I'm an idiot?" she asked, saying it a bit more aggressive than she would've liked. Alastor chuckled at her question, drinking the remains of the whiskey in one sip. He looked up at her

"No, dear, I don't think that," he said and his gaze turned away from her again. "But you're quite the gullible one, aren't you?"

Alastor said the last part mostly to himself, not really meaning for her to hear it, but she did. (Y/n)'s eyes watered at his words.

"You are such a dick..." she said through her teeth and walked towards the door.

Alastor's eyes widened slightly at her tone. He hadn't expected her to confront him like this.

"Wait!" he called out. His voice was a little louder than before, a hint of panic in it. (Y/n) stopped, despite her better judgment, waiting for him to say something. Anything.

Alastor took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on her back. For some reason, the thought of her walking away and never coming back made his heart clench in his chest.

He stood up from the couch, taking a few steps closer to her. "Please... don't leave," he said, his voice low and soft.

She slowly turned to face him. He looked changed. His once tidied-up and always-on-point appearance was now dishevelled. His hair was a mess, greasy strands covering his forehead and his clothes were dirty, full of dry paint.

"Why wouldn't I? Do you need anything else? A bigger house? Maybe a car?" she said, sarcasm filling her tone. "But don't you worry! I will give them to you so you can dismiss me again, right?"

Alastor flinched at her words, the sarcasm in her tone hitting him like a dagger. He clenched his jaw, his usually calm demeanour faltering for a moment. "You don't understand..." he said, the words coming out sharper than he intended.

(Y/n)'s anger and boldness grew with every second. "No, Alastor, I don't!" she spat the words at him. "I don't understand why, after everything I did, you couldn't at least call to tell me to leave you the fuck alone it that's what you wanted. I think I deserved at least that!"

Alastor’s mask of composure slipped, his expression darkening. "I never asked you to do anything for me, did I?" he snapped, his voice now laced with irritation. "You decided to help me on your own."

He took a step closer to her, almost towering over her. "So don’t act like I owe you anything."

You know what?” She said, her voice low and serious. “You’re right.” She admitted to him, looking into his eyes, trying her best not to cry right there.

“I wish I kicked you out that night right after you woke up, Alastor.” She told him and stormed off the door, shutting it with force behind her. Alastor stood there, dumbfounded, as he watched her storm out.

The sound of the door slamming echoed through his empty apartment, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.

He leaned against the wall, his expression a mixture of anger and frustration. He knew he messed up, but his pride didn’t allow him to admit it, to go after her. He walked into his living room, the silence surrounding him like a suffocating fog, he heard her parting words echoing in his mind.

'I wish I kicked you out that night...'

He clenched his jaw, his fists balled up in irritation. He should have been the one saying this. He should’ve been the one to dismiss her. But somehow, the tables had turned and she had the upper hand. And it frustrated him to no end. She was the reason he didn’t leave in the first place and now she’s mad at him.

Alastor growled in annoyance. She had no right to be mad at him! It wasn't his fault. He didn't ask for her help, and he certainly didn't ask her to keep checking up on him.

He clenched his teeth, the rage in him now boiling over. "Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on the door she had slammed shut. He should just let her go, forget about her. She was a mere human, after all. Alastor was not. He had much more important things to focus on.

But he found himself unable to do that. He was irritated, yes. But the thought of her being out there, alone and upset, sent a sense of unease creeping up his spine.

And so, he sent one of his shadows to follow her, roaming the earth to look for her. He paced the room, minutes feeling like hours, his uneasiness stopping slightly when the shadow returned.

"Well?" he asked, his voice betraying a note of impatience.

The shadow nodded, the confirmation Alastor was waiting for. He didn't say a word, but a small wave of relief washed over him.

"Take me to her," he said quietly. Alastor followed the shadow as it led him to the park they used to walk in. His steps were firm and confident, but his mind was swirling with a mix of emotions.

He saw her sitting on a bench, shoulders slumped, head bowed. She was crying. This sight sent a pang of guilt through him. He didn’t like it. Didn’t like that he was the cause of her crying.

Alastor approached her, a coil in his stomach forming with every step. She noticed him and quickly looked away, ignoring him as he sat down next to her. Her nose and cheeks were red from the cold and she was trembling, trying to keep her already pale hands at least a little bit warm.

"You're cold," he noted, his voice unusually soft. He wanted to scold her, maybe even reprimand her for storming out like that. But seeing her like this made him hesitate.

“I’m not.” She quickly said, still not looking at him

Alastor rolled his eyes at her childish reply. "Don't lie. I can hear your teeth chattering from here." he retorted, but there was no real bite to his words.

“Why do you care?” She asked, her voice barely audible.

Alastor frowned at her question, his irritation growing. "I don't." he lied, his voice sharp. He was not about to admit the truth of why he was here. How could he admit it when even he couldn’t understand? Why was he here to check on her, after he just ignored her? He was Alastor. Not some lovesick puppy. He turned his head away from her, the silence between them thick and uncomfortable.

“Then leave…” (y/n) eventually said. “I’ll be fine. David will pick me up.” She was in fact lying. She didn't want to call David. Not anyone for that matter. She wanted to be left alone.

Alastor clenched his jaw, his irritation growing as he knew she was bluffing and lying about the ride. He could read her like an open book.

"I don't care if David picks you up or not," he said, his voice harsh. "But I'm not leaving you out here all alone in this cold." (Y/n) got up, harshly looking at him.

“You know what? Do you want to be even? Fine!” She shouted. “You saved me from freezing to death! Thank you! Now we’re even! Now leave me the fuck alone!” Her eyes were red and swollen from the crying, tears still flooding them. She walked away, but Alastor quickly got up and grabbed her arm, his grip firm.

With a low growl, Alastor reached out and gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. His eyes bored into hers, anger and... worry burning into them.

"You're coming with me," he stated firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.

(Y/n) wanted to protest, but she didn’t. She wanted to pull back when he grabbed her hand, leading her away from the bench, but she didn’t. She was tired, cold, angry…

He stopped a cab and opened the door for her, following her inside.

As the cab rattled to life, Alastor silently looked at (y/n). He could see the exhaustion in her eyes, the anger still simmering just below the surface. The ride was quiet, the tension between them palpable. When they finally reached her place, he followed her up the stairs, his hand still gripping her arm firmly.

Alastor immediately let go of her as soon as they entered the apartment, the sudden lack of warm skin against his hand sending an unexpected jolt through him.

He looked around the apartment, his eyes taking in the familiar surroundings. Everything was just as he remembered it. Organized and tidy. Peaceful.

“I expect you to leave as soon as possible.” She coldly said to him as she took her shoes off, keeping her gaze away from him.

Alastor bristled at her cold tone and the way she avoided his gaze. He had half a mind to just turn around and leave without a word, but something kept him there.

"You really want me to leave?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of vulnerability he didn’t mean to show.

She sighed, tears refusing to come out anymore, but the feeling of wanting to cry was still there. “I am nothing to you, Alastor… why would I want you to stay?”

Alastor's heart clenched upon hearing her words. He wanted to deny it, tell her she was wrong. But he couldn’t. It was a fact he had reminded himself of countless times.

He was a selfish being. A demon. He didn’t have any room for a human in his life. Not even her.

But then, why was he here? Why was he so bothered by the thought of her crying? After a few moments of silence, Alastor finally spoke up, his voice quieter than before. "Sit down," he instructed her, making his way to the couch. She followed without protesting, hugging her knees to her chest as she sat down.

Seeing her like this made Alastor's heart skip a beat. She seemed so small and vulnerable. He looked away from her. He could feel her eyes on him, waiting for him to speak. He hated the silence, the tension. He wanted to say something, anything. But words eluded him.

What was he supposed to say anyway? Sorry? Sorry for dismissing her? For ignoring her? For treating her like a nuisance, a burden even though she has only ever helped him?

(Y/n) sighed, getting ready to get up, knowing that this would lead them nowhere.

"I'm not good with emotions and feelings," he finally said, his voice coming out soft and quiet, making her stop in her tracks. He didn’t look at her, his gaze fixed on the floor. "I've never been good at them. I don't know how to deal with them. I don't know how to deal with you..."

(Y/n) raised an eyebrow at his words. As much as she hated it, she still… felt some sympathy for him. She was hoping he’d say something awful, just so she would not be able to forgive him, just so she would have a reason to kick him out.

“With… me?” She asked.

Alastor sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "Yes, you," he confirmed, his voice growing taut with irritation.

He hated this. Hated this feeling of vulnerability, of being open and honest about his emotions. It was so unlike him.

"You're different." he continued, finally looking at her. "You always have been. You make me…" he trailed off, the words getting caught in his throat. He wanted to tell her she made him feel things he had never felt before. That she was unlike anyone he had ever met. That she had somehow weaselled her way into his heart, making it beat in a way it hadn’t in a very long time. But he didn’t. He couldn’t. The words were there, at the tip of his tongue, but they died before he could say them out loud.

He felt her warm hand suddenly resting on him, his whole body almost burning at the sensation. He pulled it away as a reflex, making her do the same.

"Sorry... I'm not used to... being touched so suddenly like this," he said, his voice so quiet. He looked at her, a pink blush spreading on her cheeks as she fidgeted her fingers. He noticed that at her. Whenever she was anxious she would do this. Slowly, he reached back for her hand, her eyes widening at the interaction.

"I'm sorry... I..." he started, not really finding the words. "I really don't want to make you suffer." he squeezed her hand slightly.

"You keep saying this, Al... But I don't get it... Hurt me how?" she asked him. He sighed, caressing the skin with his thumb.

"I can't open up, (y/n)... I was not used to this kind of things... My father..." he stopped, pinching the bridge of his nose. What was he doing...?

She squeezed back his hand. "Alastor... If you want this... I am willing to wait."

He looked at her, a genuine look on her face. He knew she didn't understand... He knew she would never understand but... Alastor also knew there was no way he could leave, not now.

His instincts acted in a weird way around her. He felt the need to protect her, to be with her.

"I do..."

Tags: @silence-burns, @ratsematary

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